A1 Online Offers

Buzz! Hear what others are saying. These are well respected professionals in the world of MONEY.

Celebrities and Cryptocurrency Buzz

Cooking with wine can either enhance or destroy your dish. When you do not have a fine wine to use, it is so much better to remove it from your recipe. A low-quality wine can turn a wonderful dish into a bitter or salty unpleasant experience.  Wine can totally enhance a dish when used right. When cooking anything you do not want the taste of the seasoning, and yes wine is a seasoning, to overpower any of your dishes. Here are some great tips for cooking with wine.

We have the BEST wine lovers club on the market.  Experience fine wines that are delivered directly to your door.  These are fabulous wines that will enhance any meal that you can create.  Learn more here.

Wine Selection

The first and most important rule of cooking with wine:  Use only wines in your cooking that you would drink. Never – ever use any wine that you would not drink! If you do not like the taste of a wine, you will not like the dish you choose to use it in.

Do not use the so-called cooking wines!  These wines are typically salty and include other additives that will negatively affect the taste of your dish and menu.  The process of cooking or reducing will bring out the worst flavors in an inferior wine.  Please make a commitment to yourself to never, use cheap inferior products in your dishes.

Wine has three 3 major uses in the kitchen.  When you cook with wine you can use it as a marinade ingredient, as a cooking liquid, and as a flavoring in a finished dish. The function of wine in cooking is to magnify intensity, enhance the flavors, and accent the ingredients while enhancing the aroma of the food. You do not want to cover up the flavor of what you are cooking. The worse this you can do is to overpower or be the main flavor of your dish

With any seasoning used in the kitchen, caution needs to be taken in the amount used. Add too little you will not even taste it, and if you add too much it will be overpowering. Neither extreme is what you want to experience.  The correct amount of wine will enhance the flavor of the dish.

What happens to the alcohol when you cook with wine

The alcohol in the wine will evaporate while the food is cooking. This will leave only the wonderful flavor of the wine being used. Reducing or boiling down wine intensifies the flavor, including bitterness, fruitiness, acidity, and sweetness.  Be sure the wine you are using pairs well with the food you are cooking.

For best results

Wine does not need to be added to a recipe just before serving.  The wine needs to cook with the food, or sauce, to infuse the flavor of the dish. If added late in the preparation, it could impart a harsh negative quality. Food simmered with the wine or in the sauce while it is being cooked stays moist. As the wine cooks, it reduces and becomes infused with the flavors of the food it is being paired with.  Also, note that wine needs time to impart its flavor in your dish.  Wait 10 minutes or more to taste before adding more wine.

Benefits of cooking with wine

When you take some of the fat out of dishes, you usually need to add another ingredient to replace the lost moisture. Here are some examples of how wine can do just that:

• In place of sauteing veggies in butter or oil, you can saute them in a smaller amount of oil plus some wine for flavor and moisture.
• In making a marinade use 1/4 cup of oil and add 1/4 cup of wine.
• Try adding 3/4 cup of oil to a cake mix recipe, add 3/4 cup of white or dessert wine to the batter.

Here are some great ways to use wine in light cooking:

• Assists in the cooking and adds flavor to fish. Deep-fried fish that is dipped in tartar sauce, is defiantly tasty. Unfortunately, it defeats the nutritional purpose of eating fish. One way to add flavor and moisture to fish without adding fat is to cook it with wine. You can add wine to the pan while the fish is simmering. Try Poaching the fish over a saucepan of boiling wine. Drizzle the fish with a tablespoon or two of white wine and lemon juice and bake it in a foil package.
• A great ingredient in marinades. Wine is basically an acid ingredient, a natural meat tenderizer, and it has a lot of flavors. The wine-based marinade helps keep meat, poultry, or seafood moist while it cooks.
• Wine helps cook and simmer foods. Add wine to dishes you’re cooking in a skillet on the stove. Pour it in a slow cooker, or in the oven. Simmered along with the food, it adds flavor and moisture to whatever dish you’re making.
• Wine used in baking is great too! For certain types of cakes, using wine or sherry in place of some of the fat. It not only lightens up the cake but adds complementary flavors.

Do not cook with wine you do not like

Do not cook with wine that you do not enjoy drinking. The alcohol content in wine evaporates at 172º F. All that is left are the flavor components such as acidity, residual sugars, and fruit aromas and essence. If you start with a low-quality wine, you’ll be left with low-quality flavors. Some of your shopping center cooking wine contains high sodium content and can make your dish salty. Whichever wine you choose, don’t cook it too long or you’ll lose some flavors.

This is where having a membership in the Best Wine of the Month club comes in handy.  You can use the fine wines that are delivered to you monthly.  You will have no excuse but to use quality fine wines in your cooking!

Break The Rules

We’ve all heard that white wine goes with fish and red wine with red meat. Award-winning chef Ricardo Zarate, whose Peruvian restaurants Picca Peru and Mo-Chica introduced Novo Andina cuisine to L.A. foodists. Go ahead and break the rules!!! Fish can indeed swim in red wine. “I’ll use Pinot Noir in a tomato-based fish sauce,” he says. Similarly, Johnson notes that a glass of good white wine is used in the marinade that flavors beautifully with Perú’s popular pork sandwich, the butifarra. And for you artistic types, red wine can add a robust red color to a chicken, fish, or pork recipe. So go ahead and break the rules and experiment. Taste the wine and enjoy your experience every time.  Cooking can be a date night in and be the greatest night of the week.

Be sure your flavors balance

Make sure that the bold flavors of the wine that you are using does not overpower the food your serving. Zarate cautions against using a strong wine to cook a strong flavor like fish. He prefers aromatic, acidic wines such as Sauvignon Blanc for cooking lighter dishes. Highly tannic red wines will tend to leave an unpleasant bitter taste in any dish. So if you’re cooking with red wine, avoid young reds or wines known for having strong tannins. Merlot is generally a safe choice. Enjoy your experience and taste the wine you’re cooking with. This is an art. An artist can not paint without knowing what medium he or she is using. Its like milk and cookies they go and you can taste the milk after the first bite of cookie. The same with cooking with wine.

Do not forget our Latin Roots

Latin American culture has a diverse culinary history. European and Pan-Asian influences give you a wide variety of wine-centered cooking techniques. “Wine is most commonly used in marinades for grilled meats in Argentina, and as a deglazing agent in Asian-influenced Peruvian cuisine, and to macerate fruit for some Bolivian pastries,” Johnson says.

Using Wine to Cook Healthy

Awesome news for anyone who’s watching the waistline. Wine is good for being used in the place of fattening ingredients, in some Latin American dishes. Sonia Zaldivar, the owner of Victor’s Café, one of the oldest Cuban restaurants in New York City, is giving a healthier version of some traditionally rich Cuban dishes by taking out the fat. No lard means “you have to put something back in to make it flavorful, so we use spices and wine,” she says. Zaldivar prefers Chablis because it has a lighter flavor that does not overpower the herbal essence.

Experiment and have a taste

Wine can change an old recipe into a new experience according to Johnson. “In Mexico, you’ll see a dried chile sauce being made with red wine for an incredible inspiration.” Wine blends really well with broth and water when you’re braising meat. And you can use it in place of beer, or other liquids in different dishes.  Have fun, experiment with wine the next time you make carne asada. Sauces made with Madeira, the fortified Portuguese wine, complement traditional fruit-based desserts like poached pears.

Here is one final piece of advice. “The most important thing about cooking with wine is making sure you’re drinking it, While your cooking. I always have a glass of wine (or two) on hand when I cook. Otherwise, it’s not fun!”

“I enjoy cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food I’m cooking.” ~Julia Child

Nothing can turn an everyday sauce, into an extravagant work of art like adding some quality wine. Not only is wine outstanding in taste, but it also has a whole gamete of health benefits when consumed in smaller amounts. When it comes to Italian cooking, wine is often an essential ingredient.

One thing to remember, you can’t just pick up any bottle of wine that you have lying around the house and add it to your meal. To cook with wine requires a little bit of technique and knowledge. Often many recipes will not advance much past listing the color of the wine used. But a Burgundy and a Chardonnay will produce very different flavors. Wines from different areas will produce different flavors and aromas as well

To cook with wine just requires a little experimentation and a “try anything” attitude. If you’re going for a more savory dish, you wouldn’t want to add a dessert wine to your recipe. In other cases, if your dish has piquant or spicy flavors, a fruitier flavor of a Riesling will help to balance the tones. It’s all about what can complement the food and what the wine pairs well with.

That is what I love about direct cellar is that they ship a sheet of what the wines they send pair well with.

Types of Wine

The best wines used for cooking most typically are Ports, Marsalas, and Madeiras. So if you’re in a pinch, opt for one of those. Madeira is especially common among Italian and other Mediterranean dishes. When a recipe calls for dry white wine your go-to should be Sauvignon Blanc.

Cooking sherry should actually be avoided because it is typically of poorer quality and will not have the same attributes as regular drinking wine.

Red or White?

One great rule of thumb for choosing white wine versus red wine in your cooking is by matching the colors. For darker foods such as berries, chocolate, and steak, red wine is a great addition. And lighter-colored foods such as lemons and limes, fish, and chicken work well with white wine.  You also need to take into consideration what is being served with the main course.  Pairing your fine should include the whole meal and not just the main course.

When to Use

If you just can’t get enough of wine in your food, consider using it as a supplement to oil and add a bit in the pan when you’re sautéing vegetables or in a marinade. Again, consider the attributes of the dish you are adding the wine to.  You want the wine to compliment the dish – not destroy it.  Simmering a bit of wine with whatever you’re cooking is a great way to add a new dimension of flavor to your dish.

Make sure to give the wine enough time to meld with the flavors of the dish and simmer off some of the alcohol before serving. Typically the wine flavor is too pungent at this stage and might overtake your other flavors, so allow it about ten minutes before taking it off the heat.

When you understand more about Fine Wines, you will understand an easy way to enhance your life from today forward.  Plus, you will be able to help others around you to benefit from this amazing addition to life’s routines as well.  The more education we get on fine wines, the better we can use them in our lives. This is something we all deserve. You will find other pages here to help you so feel free to browse. Go here to learn how to get free fine wine delivered to your door.

#howtotastewine; #pairingfoodwithwine; #allaboutwine; #recipesusingwine;

Follow me on: Instagram – @offers26  and  Twitter – @msazkat

It was a magical evening.  The meal was so perfect and delicious.  You tried the wine suggested by the waiter and it was wonderful.  After that perfect meal, it was an evening of wine, fun, and conversation. It was an evening that you will not forget!  It was an experience with the right combination of great wine and great food that you want to happen over and over again.  So how do you create that same experience?  How do you create a fabulous meal?  How do you know what wine you are going to like?  It’s all about tasting and enjoying the wine.

Wine Tasting 101 – The Basics of Discovering The Wines You Enjoy

If you found this page then you are on a journey to discover how to taste wine and what a wonderful journey that can be.  You have questions and hopefully this page will answer some of your questions.

You can experience wines from Napa and Sonoma valleys in your very own home. The BEST Wine of the Month club will deliver fine boutique wines right to your door every month.  You will have the opportunity to taste amazing wines found by the club’s very own Sommeliers to find the best to be delivered to you.  Go here to learn more and become a customer today!

Drinking wine is easy

But do you really know how to experience it? Finding wines you enjoy is a journey and not just grabbing a bottle from the local store and drinking it.  To experience wine and what it has to offer you need to slow down.  Pay attention to all of your senses. Wine is enjoyed on multiple levels that include sight, smell, the touch of the glass, how it feels in your mouth, as well as how it tastes.

There are no right or wrong ways to describe how it tastes or smells – everyone senses something different.  That is what is so amazing about wine.  And do not rush the tasting experience.  Spend time with the wine to enjoy and experience it. Allow your senses to become fully involved in the experience. Have some fun with it and enjoy fine wines from Napa and Sonoma valleys.

The Basics

Start with a clean, clear wine glass. The rim of the glass should slope inwards to allow or funnel aromas to the nose. And allow you to swirl without spilling and making a mess.

Holding a Wine Glass

Believe it or not, there is a right way and a wrong way to hold a wine glass. And it totally does make a difference.  Never hold the glass by its bowl, only by its stem.  The warmth of your hand will quickly warm the Fine wine you are tasting.

When tasting several wines, beginning with the lightest white wine first. And progress to the heaviest red wines. This will allow your taste buds to become more sensitive so you can better experience each wine in the series.  A sip of water between wines will clean and preserve your palate for the next wine experience.

Now pour a small amount of wine into your glass – an inch or less is best and follow the instructions below.

Sight/Color

Stare into the wine – in daylight if at all possible. The most effective way is to slightly tip the wine in the glass and hold it to the light or look at it against a white or pale background. While firmly holding the stem of the wine glass, gently swirl the glass in tiny circles on a flat surface for 10 to 20 seconds. This allows oxygen to penetrate the wine and activate the aromas in the wine and allow you to receive the fullness of them. As the wine coats the sides of the glass, it releases a gamete of aromas for you to experience.  Observe the streaks of wine (legs) as they roll down the side of the glass. The legs can help you determine the body of the wine, see its clarity.  What is it that you see?  Is the wine clear or cloudy?

A young red wine is typically a bright-raspberry color.  You will see slight tints of reddish-brown around the edges.  The more a red wine ages, the more it may take on a mahogany to brick-like color.  Some dessert wines and especially those that have been in oak barrels, tend to be a more golden red color.

White wines range from a light green to yellow to deep golden brown. The more a white wine ages the more it becomes more golden in color.

Smell or Sniff

Tilt the glass to you and stick your nose just above the rim of the glass and inhale. Some tasters claim that you can get more aroma by holding your nose an inch or so above the glass after swirling. They think you catch more than you would if you put your nose all the way into the glass. Try both ways to see what works for you. Also, your nose will tire very quickly. Even “off-smells” may not register after a number of sniffs so take your time and pay attention to what you smell.

Did you know that 80% of our sense of taste is actually found in our nose?  The aromas can be quite different depending on how far into the glass your nose goes. What is it that you smell? There is no proper sniffing technique. Some wine connoisseurs prefer to sniff by quickly inhaling two or three times. Others prefer one deep sniff or smelling with one nostril at a time. It is all about what is best for you and your experience. Enjoy the aromas.

At the top of the glass, the smells can be more floral and fruity. Deeper in the glass, they are richer. Detect the full range of scents from berry to floral to spicy to woody and consider the intensity of the aromas. Does it appeal to you? Wine tasting is all about you and your experience and not what others are experiencing.

Sip and Taste: How to Taste Wine for the Best Experience! 

The final step and probably the most enjoyable is tasting the wine!  Remember to only taste the wine after using the other senses to get the most out of the wine.  Sip the wine and let the wine spread across the tongue from front to back and side to side.  Swirl the wine in your mouth before swallowing in order to get the full experience. Slowly allow it to seep into your taste buds.

Carefully slurp some air through puckered lips or “chew”. This slurping of air (aerating) will help to release the flavor and aromas found in the wine. Assessing the wine by taste should confirm the conclusions drawn from the appearance and smell assessments.

The very tip of the tongue detects sweetness.

The inner sides of the tongue detect sourness and/or acidity.  That is why when you eat something that is acidic the sides of you tongue react.

The outer sides of the tongue detect saltiness

At this point, you can either spit out the wine (especially if you are tasting several wines) or simply swallow it. Either way be sure you take the time to experience the aftertaste  – the grand finale. Professional wine tasters will not swallow the wine, but immediately spit it out.

What Different Wine Tasting Terms Mean

Sweetness

The first thing you will probably notice is the sweetness of the wine or how dry the wine is.  This is determined by the amount of all natural sugar in the wine.  Higher sugars in the grapes have the potential to produce higher alcohol content creating the dry flavor.

Acidity

The next sensation you will notice almost immediately is the tartness or acidity of the wine.  Just think of the difference between grapefruit juice and water. The acidity may sound harsh but it is so very important in making the wine taste crisp and refreshing.  If there is too much acid, the wine will taste bitter and overly sharp.  If there is not enough acid, the wine will taste dull and flat.

Tannin

If you are drinking red wine, you might also notice the tannins in the wine.  Tannin is a chemical that comes from the stalks, pips, and skins of red grapes.  It tastes astringent and “mouth-drying”, and makes your mouth “pucker”.  There are many kinds of tannin.  Some tannins taste bitter.  Tannins are most noticeable in young red wines.  Over time, as wine ages, the tannins will “soften” and give the wine a certain full-bodied heaviness that is very enjoyable.

Alcohol Content

Alcohol is found in all wine.  A moderate amount of alcohol in wine adds “sweetness” to the taste.  If it’s is too high and out of balance with the tannin and fruit, then the wine will feel hot in your mouth. This makes it difficult to drink.

Aftertaste

This is the sensation that lingers in your mouth just after swallowing a sip of wine.  Aftertaste is important in wine tasting because it can reveal an extra wonderful attribute or a negative fault.  Sometimes certain flavors become noticeable in the aftertaste, such as chocolate.  A fine wine will have a long, pleasant aftertaste. This signifies all the components of the wine are in balance.

Overall Assessment

When the aftertaste has faded, ask yourself what your overall impression of the wine is.  Do you like the taste of it?  Are all the attributes in balance?  Ask yourself – will it improve and mellow or “open up” with age?  Or is the wine ready to drink now? What kinds of food might go nicely with this wine?

Each wine experience is as unique as the person tasting it. Enjoy! Take time to find the wines that speak to you.

Fine Wines are just a few clicks away!

Now you don’t even need to leave your home.  They come right to your door.  And you get the benefit of amazing experiences in each and every glass!  As you build up your personal wine cellar – keep in mind that each month you will have the choice of what you experience now, and what you save for tomorrow. Maybe an upcoming announcement, promotion or new achievement.  Life should be full of memories and locking those in with the enhancement of fine wine is, well… magical.  Enhance the party, gathering, or romantic party of two with “Direct to your Door Fine Wines” with your membership.

Go here and click on the image of the 4 women enjoying glasses of wine to learn how you can be part of this amazing opportunity and enjoy fine boutique wines now!  After reviewing the video just click on the link below it to get started having fines wines delivered directly to you.

So the next time you want to create a magical event, remember to pick the wine that was just delivered to your door and create your meal. Invite good friends and sit back to enjoy!  You can find some recipes here.  Come back as I will be adding more!

Planning a romantic evening for that special someone?  Go here to find some unique ideas.  

Follow me on: Instagram – @offers26  and  Twitter – @msazkat

It was a perfect evening.  You were with friends and the meal was so perfect and delicious.  After that perfect meal, it was an evening of wine, fun, and conversations with a great group of people. It was a magical experience with the right combination of great wine, great food, and great friends.  An evening to remember.  It was an evening that you would like to experience over and over again.  So how do you create the same experience?  How do you create a fabulous meal?  Are you looking for help with pairing wine with food to create that magical evening?

The first thing is to have great wine.  How would you like to have fine boutique wine from around the world delivered to your door?  Wine that is not mass produced and can not be found in any local store?  Wine that has an amazing taste and created just for those magical moments in life?  Well you can have that amazing wine by becoming part of the BEST Wine of the Month club in the world.  Go here to learn more and sign up today!  Just click on the image of the 4 women enjoying their wine.  It will tell you about the amazing and exciting program that you can be a part of now.

Pairing Wine with Food can be Difficult.

Have you had that experience of the perfect meal where everything went so well together and wondered how the host was able to accomplish it?  The right wine can enhance a dish to perfection. While there are no hard and fast rules for pairing wine with food, it’s ultimately a matter of personal taste.  There are basic guidelines on what wine connoisseurs and food lovers consider make good choices. Here are some suggestions to help guide you to creating a meal that becomes an event and a great memory.

Start with an Open Mind.

This is only a guide and is a starting place on your journey to enjoying your favorite wines with our favorite meals. If you prefer different combinations, nothing is stopping you from enjoying those combinations.  In fact, I encourage you to experiment and try new things.  The principal purpose of guides is to enlighten your understanding of common pairings, and the reasons behind them. It’s also about taking some guesswork out of pairing wine with food until you’re comfortable enough to enjoy pairings from your own experience. Ultimately, you’ll learn to tune into your own palate as the best guide to what wine works with what food. The basic guideline is to ‘Match’ and ‘Complement’ the characteristics of the wine to the food or ‘Contrast’ – counterbalance overpowering characteristics. For example Spicy foods with a sweeter wine.

Be aware that some wines can be “spoiled” by the introduction of certain food flavors, just as they can be enhanced. If you find that a wine you’ve always loved suddenly doesn’t taste as great as it has in the past, note the food you paired it with.  Try drinking it without food before dismissing the wine outright.

Seek a balance in the wine’s components (fruit, acid, alcohol, sweetness, and tannin), and the food components (ingredients, manner of cooking, and the resulting tastes). It is more than just the flavor. Also consider the texture, weight, structure, and bouquet of both wine and food. Normally you will find, delicate food suits a delicate wine, while richer and more robust food will pair better with heavier, fuller flavored wines.  Of course, remember that there will be exceptions as you will find when you experiment with different pairings.

How is the food cooked?

The manner in which a food is cooked will also impact the taste of a wine. The nature of a food changes according to how it is prepared, be it roasted, baked, poached, steamed, marinated, seasoned, cooked in sauce, or left in as near to its original state as possible. This is why generalizations are too simplistic – the flavor, texture, weight, and composition of the food needs to be considered individually, regardless of the principal component of a dish.  Also take into consideration as to what side dishes are being served as they will influence the meal experience.

While similarities attract, opposites can be wonderful. Remember, food and wine complement one another in such a way that you can be drawn from the wine to the food and back again without losing the essence of either.

Keep the food flavors simple. If the flavors of the food are too complex, it will be difficult to pair because the food becomes so dominant. If you have a particularly complex or rich food dish, it’s recommended that you don’t try matching your prized wines.  Rely on cheaper, more readily available wine in case the pairing does not go well..

Travel and Wine?

Remember that trip you took and the wonderful evening where you enjoyed that fabulous meal?  Do you enjoy tasting wines from around the world?  How would like to enjoy fine wines from around the world AND have them delivered to your door?  You can now by joining the BEST wine of the month club in the world.  Recreate that magical meal with the amazing fine boutique wines that will be delivered to your door every month.  No more running to the store to settle for one of those mass-produced wines that leave you with headaches. 

And when your wine is delivered it comes with pairing notes so you can have that magical experience again.  Go here to learn more.  And if you do travel regularly please feel free to look into this amazing travel platform where you can book everything from your flights, to your hotel room and even your rental vehicle.  Tell your friends and receive the benefits.  Learn more about the program here today.

Know how to taste food and wine together.

Being aware of how to taste the food and wine together is vital and will enable you to grow beyond the generalities. Try to do the following:

• Take a mouthful of wine and roll it around your mouth. Swallow.
• Ask yourself what you taste and smell. Look for familiar fruit, berry, and wood flavors.
• Is the wine light or heavy.
• What is the sweetness or acidity of the wine.
• Take your tasting of the wine, and try to match it to similar characteristics in food. Find at least one aspect that corresponds with the food, such as the sweetness, the flavor, the texture, etc.
• Try the food. Eat a small piece, chew, and swallow it. As with the wine, consider how it tastes, as well as the aftertaste. If it’s a pleasant experience, you’ve hit on a winner; if not, the pairing isn’t made, and it’s time to try a different wine for that particular food.

Know your taste experience.

There four to five tastes – saltiness, bitterness, acidity, sweetness, and the Japanese umami. These are the tastes that you’ll be combining together the same way an artist combines paint on the palette:

• Saltiness: The easiest taste to recognize and it lingers. Saltiness brings out sweetness, hides tannins

  

  and increases bitterness. Sweet dessert wines go well with salty foods, or very fruity reds.
• Acidity: Highly acidic foods are not ideal with wine.  They tend to cancel out the wine’s flavor. As such, leave the vinegars, vinaigrettes, and dressings to a minimum. Acidity is a taste that lingers, it can hide tannin and bitterness and make wine seem sweeter. An acidic wine should be paired with a dish that is of lower acidity to prevent flattening the wine. For example, add a little sugar to take the edge off a vinaigrette.
• Bitterness: Bitter foods include radicchio, olives, rocket, etc. It’s a taste that outlasts all other tastes. Bitterness is able to cover up acidity in a wine, hides the tannins, and brings out the sweetness. Young red wines work well with bitter greens, wild herbs, and olives.
• Sweetness: Another easy taste for many, although the ability to taste sweetness declines with age. Sweetness doesn’t last long as a taste. It minimizes bitterness and acidity in a wine. Aim to partner sweet wine with food that isn’t overly sweet; to have both as sweet as the other will cancel out the wine. If you have chocolate, enjoy a liqueur Tokay or a Muscat rather than a sweet wine.
• Umami: This is the taste that emanates from broth style or earthy food, such as soups, miso, stock, consommé, roast meats, mushrooms, etc. Umami takes off the edge of tannins and brings out the sweetness, making it a good choice.

Start pairing wine and food.

You’ll find suggestions for pairing food with wine everywhere. However, as already noted, such generalities are very broad.  They don’t account for the manner in which the food is cooked or what is accompanying it.  It is so important to rely on your own palate.  Continue exploring and experimenting to find out what combinations you enjoy the most.:

• Beef and lamb: Generally red wine is paired for beef and lamb dishes. Usually a full-bodied red such as a Shiraz or Cabernet/Shiraz blend works well.
• Chicken: White wine is the usual pick. For grilled or roast chicken, try a Chardonnay. For chicken cooked in a rich sauce, try a Shiraz or a medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Fish and seafood: Select a white wine for fish and seafood. These wines would include Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer. Grilled firm-flesh fish matches well with Chardonnay or an aged Semillon, while a hearty fish stew is excellent accompanied by Pinot Noir. For flaky fish, choose a dry Riesling or a Chardonnay.
• Spicy: Choose Riesling and sweet Gewürztraminer if your meal is spicy. The sweetness of these wines can be drank quickly to offset the spiciness of the food. Avoid adding a Chardonnay as it will taste bitter.
• Game: Choose a spicy red like Sangiovese or Shiraz for game such as venison, bison, or kangaroo.
• Tomato (acidic) based meals: Serve Barbera, Sangiovese, or Zinfandel with tomato-based meals (i.e. spaghetti and pizza).
• Duck, quail: Try a Pinot Noir or a Shiraz.
• Cheese: Full-bodied wines go well with hard cheese, such as a full-bodied Shiraz with cheddar cheese. Soft cheese partners well with dry Riesling, Marsanne, or Viognier. Sweet wine is a good match for blue cheese.
• Dessert: Sweet wines are a good choice, provided that the dessert is not as sweet as the wine.

Deepen your pairing knowledge.

Discover the nuances in each wine variation.  It’s easy to say that chicken goes with white wine, or beef goes with red wine but which wine? And is this choice clear cut? Pairing wine with food will depend heavily on how the food has been prepared. If the chicken has been poached, making it simple and delicate, a simple wine such as a young Semillon will be good. When roasted, the fat makes the chicken richer, requiring a heavier textured wine such as an aged Semillon. If barbecued, the chicken becomes smoky, and goes well with a wine aged in wood, such as a light Chardonnay. When chicken has been cooked in cream, it becomes really rich, a heavier Chardonnay will pair well. When it’s made into a darker dish, such as by adding soy sauce, it can take a light red such as a Pinot Noir. 

• Each wine style has it’s own unique flavor.  Match the subtleties to the food ingredients. For example, fruity elements and wood overtones impact the wine flavor.  If you can taste peaches, coconut, tropical flavors, smokiness, herbs, etc., then take those flavors and find their food matches.
• Wines are light, medium or full-bodied, referring to the depth/weight of flavor on the mid-palate. When trying to discern the weight of the wine, either ask the retailer, or check the depth of color. Apart from Pinot Noir, normally the darker the color, the heavier the weight.
• Use your sense of smell.  Trust your nose. Wine smells can be floral, perfumed, mineral, fruity (common fruit smells are peach, melon, and fig), butter, nuts, earthy, truffle or mushroom, meaty, or even like the barnyard. If the smell is unpleasant, avoid it. An aging wine can have overtones of toast or engine fuel.

Consider pairing wine with the regional or origin of the cuisine.

Plan the meal and wine.

When planning dinner, many people opt for planning the food first and adding in the wine according to the food. However, you might like to work from the other way, and plan the meal according to the wine. Either way is appropriate but will impact how you explore the flavors, and the perspective gained by looking at the wine first, then the food, can be quite a refreshing one.

So the next time you want to create a magical event, remember to pick your wine that was just delivered to your door and create your meal.  Invite good friends and sit back to enjoy!  You can find some recipes here.  Come back as I will be adding more!

Planning a romantic evening for that special someone?  Go here to find some unique ideas.  

Follow me on :Instagram – @offers26  and  Twitter – @msazkat

Saying goodbye to loved ones can be challenging – devastating.  I grew up in a family that wasn’t close.  My parents were stringent.  There were no hugs or kisses.  They didn’t know how to show us love so we didn’t learn how to love.  It was how they were raised and didn’t know any better.  We were good kids, well-mannered, and knew right from wrong.  They thought they had done a good job raising us.

My father, while working as a welder for a large corporation, had a major heart attack on the job.  Back in the late ‘60’s early ‘70 there were no employee rights.  He was fired immediately and our whole lives turned upside down.  Without any income, my parents had to become resourceful and find a way to take care of the family.  So the stress made things even colder in the household.

No one talked about what was happening. Dad decided that he was going into the antique business.   All the stress and hard work caused my Dad to live a short life.  A few years after his heart attack the doctors told Dad that he must have open heart surgery.  How can we afford that?  Well, I’m not sure what happened but my Mom and Dad ended up in Texas.  My Dad was the first survivor of open heart surgery in the United States.  His case history was in the college medical books.

At the age of 49, he passed away.  He lived 6 ½ years after the surgery.  I didn’t know how to say I love you and Dad never told me he loved me.  My biggest regret was never telling him how I felt about him.   I couldn’t say goodbye.

Later I met my best friend who would become my partner in life – my “brother.”  His family was so different than mine. He and his mother were so loving and I didn’t know quite what to do.  I didn’t know how to respond to their loving ways.

They taught me what love was and what it is like to have a loving environment.  I will always be thankful for the chance to be part of their loving family.  I still don’t know if I truly know how to love, but I do know what it feels like to be loved.  Michael just recently told me that he is ready to pass on. 

He truly broke my heart when he told me that.  I’m not ready to say goodbye but thankful that he told me.  I will support him and love him until the end.  I will be forever grateful that he took a chance and let me into his life.  He and his Mom dramatically changed my life and showed me what love is. I will be forever thankful for the opportunity to have known his family and what I was able to learn and feel from them.

Saying goodbye to a loved one — what to talk about, when, and how — isn’t easy. What do people appreciate hearing at any time of life – words of candor, reassurance, love?  Here are some suggestions to help you during that difficult time.

Don’t wait until the last minute.

It’s hard saying goodbye.  Putting off meaningful conversations is perhaps the number-one source of regret. Time and again we are told exactly when the final hour is approaching by doctors so that we have time to say our goodbyes. It’s uncanny that dying people have the ability to choose the moment of death.  It’s not uncommon for them to spare those they love the most or feel protective of by waiting until those people leave the room.

Some feel cheated when they are so determined to be there and their loved one passed on when they were alone.  Knowing this, spend less time focused on making sure they don’t die alone, and more time on telling them what they meant to you.  Think about what you would want to hear and know if you were dying.  Ask yourself: Is there anything critically important that needs to be said?  Nothing said is wasted even if the person continues to live awhile.

It’s OK, even comforting, to tell them that you know the end is nearing

The dying person usually knows what’s happening. When no one talks about it, it’s an elephant in the room that everyone is tiptoeing around. The person who’s dying and everyone involved are uncomfortable and that only adds stress.  Think about others’ needs instead of dealing with your own.

It helps to reassure the dying person that you understand and are ready, even though you may not be yet.  In a way, you’re granting the person permission to set aside the troubles of this world. That’s not to say you need to use direct language about death. Near-death awareness (as the phenomenon of saying and seeing unusual things on one’s deathbed is known) is seldom caused by medications or dementia, research shows.

Follow the dying person’s lead

If the person talks about impending death either directly or indirectly through metaphor, go along. Don’t correct the person (“No you’re not dying.” “But dear, we’re not going on a trip today”),

Expressing anxiety about finishing certain tasks is similar to that ‘did-I-turn-off-the-stove worry’ we all feel before going on a trip. Follow the metaphor with reassurance: “You’ve done a good job; you’re all set.”

Sometimes the person may ask, “Am I dying?” as a way of gauging your feelings. Instead of attempting to answer with a yes or no answer, reflect the question back: “I don’t know. How are you feeling?”

Others refuse to directly discuss death. Don’t force this issue but listen to what they have to say.  They know and they will give you hints.  You just need to pay attention to what they are telling you and follow their lead.

Truth is good — but so is the little white lie

Being reassured that their loved ones will fare well in their absence helps people feel they can go peacefully. It’s common to seek reconciliation with or between other people, with God or the universe, or within themselves. They often ask directly about particular relationships or express a desire to see someone they’ve been in conflict with themselves.

Hospice workers advise you to let them know that you will be OK with them passing on.  If that is difficult for you here are some alternatives that are supportive but easier to say: “You look tired, sweetheart, please don’t worry about me.” “You’ve been such a fighter. If you need to rest, it’s OK.” “I understand what’s happening and it makes me so sad, but I’ll be all right.”

Or you could talk about the person’s accomplishments or legacy: “I’m so proud when I think of all the things you’ve done.” “We don’t like what’s happening to you, but you’ve shown us how to stick together and be OK.”  These help your loved one see that they made a difference in the world or within a particular family, which satisfies the human need to feel our lives have meaning and purpose.

Hearing is the last sense to leave. That’s why you should always assume that a person who’s unconscious, in a coma, or seems otherwise unresponsive can hear you.  Say what’s in your heart. You may even get a reply or they may press your hand or give you some kind of acknowledgment.  Celebrate their life and what they mean to you.

Trust your instincts, not “the rules.”

We have developed an odd code of conduct about how to say goodbye. One common expectation, for example, is that people should be somber. These beliefs simply aren’t applicable to every situation.

Don’t let anyone tell you there’s a “right” way to behave. For some people, for example, jokes and obliviousness are the right tones right to the end. They still want to be a part of your life.  So talk about what is happening in your life.  It also helps them to think about something else than their current situation.  It makes them feel as if they are still part of what is going on in the family.

You don’t have to issue a formal farewell every time you leave the room

Not knowing if a parting is the final one brings the happiest of visits to an uncertain juncture. Here’s where it helps to have expressed love, appreciation, forgiveness, and reassurance in an ongoing way. Say what you need to say many times and in different ways.  You’ll be less likely to have any regrets when the moment finally comes. Use open-ended phrases like  “God be with you.” or  “I love you; sleep well.” Or in place of words, express all you’re feeling with an embrace.

You can speak volumes without uttering a word.

It’s hard to say goodbye — but you don’t have to “say” anything. Most critical: Just show up. Be there.

Foot rubs, stroking an arm or shoulder, kisses, smiles, and gazing into someone’s eyes all communicate compassion, love, and gratitude for a shared lifetime. With or without accompanying conversation, your presence and your touch rank among the most eloquent, regret-free ways there are of saying goodbye.

Saying goodbye is one of the most difficult things you will ever do.  I hope that these suggestions have helped you to deal with the situation the next time it comes around.

Follow me on: Instagram – @offers26  and  Twitter – @msazkat

All about wine is a complex topic.   It is history, culture, agriculture, geology, and genetics. So how can you learn more about wine without getting overwhelmed by details?

For the longest time, the wine was taught by region and in the past, this worked well. However today, wine is literally being produced everywhere.  The regional lines have become blurred. So it’s time to develop new ways to learn about wine. There is a lot of information on the world wide web, books, and videos just to name a few resources. Also, wine tastings and tours are very popular. Traveling to a winery and actually seeing how the wines are made and then tasting the wine is an experience all on its own.

Get Access to Wines From Napa and Sonoma Valleys. (That you wouldn’t be able to get otherwise.)

The World’s best winemakers, with the region’s best grapes, are working to make their craft.  You deserve to share in the flavor and the individual experience each wine presents to you.  Getting new wines direct to you each month is the best way to consistently share in the greatness of these fine wines.  With access (some are exclusives) to the World’s Largest varieties,  your solution is here and is a reward for your hard work in life.

How about those romantic dinners, or classical music in the park outings?  Ever go up the Canyon to enjoy a campfire, some dark chocolate, and oh… some really good Merlot?  If you haven’t I highly recommend it.  To us, wine is known as the elixir of life.  It has been around for centuries – a literal gift from the Gods.  You will be looking for those moments to celebrate, and reflect on your life, life’s achievements, and special occasions.  You will have something that makes each moment remarkable.

Fine Wines Worthy of Your Wine Cellar

As you build up your personal collection – keep in mind that each month you will have the choice of what you experience now, and what you save for tomorrow. Maybe an upcoming announcement, promotion or new achievement.  Life should be full of memories and locking those in with the enhancement of fine wine is, well… magical.  Enhance the party, gathering, or romantic party of two with “Direct to your Door Fine Wines” with your membership.

Start Here – and get Fine Wines Delivered to you Monthly – and Start Enjoying the Life Experiences You Deserve!

Wine complements so many foods and food experiences.  A pairing can make any meal into an event, and more so, a lasting memory. Take a moment to think about the last time you had a truly fine wine.  Do you remember?  With fine wine, you can remember everything about the occasion.  Something magical happens with each event that has wine included… it does something remarkable.

From graduation to a job promotion; from a first date to a wedding dinner – events and life’s moments are always better with wine. With the fine wines you receive, you get everything you need to make an event an amazing experience that is not soon forgotten thanks to the magic of fine wine.  There are celebrations throughout the year so why not have the perfect fine wine addition to make the moments magical and truly memorable?

Not to mention the elements of romance and worry-free attitudes that come with a glass of fine wine.  It relaxes, soothes, and aids in stress relief.  Red wine carries health benefits, as well as the ability to fight the damage of aging and health caused by our everyday stress.  You will be able to make the simplest of dinners become a romantic and loving affair.  There is something about it, and it often lets the worries fade away and the strings of the heart to embrace and bond.

Go Here and Start Pouring Glasses of Experiences and Romance Here

Here are some simple rules for wine pairing.

• White wines tend to pair better with lighter foods such as green veggies and fish.
• Keep clear of red wine and fish, for the most part, unless it’s a rich not-so-fishy fish.
• Sparkling wine pairs with a wide variety of foods because it acts as a palate cleanser.

So experiment with pairing these wonderful wines and have fun with it.  There are so many ways to enjoy fine wine.  These are life-enhancing, stress-relieving, and mood-altering (for the better) ways.  We have a complete page of information (GO HERE) where you can indulge in more ideas of a better life through fine wines.

When you understand more about Fine Wines, you will appreciate an easy way to enhance your life from today forward.  Plus, you will be able to help others around you to benefit from this amazing addition to life’s routines as well.  The more education we get on fine wines, the better we can use them in our lives. This is something we all deserve.

We are growing fast and we are looking for people that want to have a lot of fun, enjoy fine wine, and make a great income doing so.  Simply watch the presentation above, make a decision, and JOIN today.  We will see that you have everything you need to be successful with us.

SIGN UP NOW!

Follow me on: Instagram – @offers26  and  Twitter – @msazkat

Aromatherapy benefits have been studied in connection with improving both short-term health problems, along with more serious disorders. Research shows that anyone with the following health conditions can likely benefit from aromatherapy:

• Chronic stress or anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia and trouble sleeping
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Respiratory infections
• Digestive upset
• PMS or menopause symptoms
• Skin problems or disorders, including bites, rashes, bruising, cellulite or acne
• Blood sugar fluctuations
• Cancer
• Fatigue

Aromatherapy Oils Have both Sedative and Stimulant Effects

A growing pool of both human and animal studies has shown that aromatherapy oils can have both sedative and stimulant effects, plus positive effects on the immune system and central nervous system. Recently, studies have shown that fragrant aromatherapy oils have positive effects on the region in the brain called the limbic system.  The limbic system helps control both emotional responses and behaviors.

Understand that the key to achieving results from aromatherapy is to use pure, therapeutic-grade oils. The effectiveness of aromatherapy practices always depends on the quality of the oils used, plus the dosage.

Proven Benefits of Aromatherapy

1. Promotes Relaxation

Many studies have shown that certain essential oils used in aromatherapy practices, including lavender and chamomile, can help people who feel stressed or anxious to relax .  Lavender has a universal calming effect.  It lowers activation of the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the fight or flight response and physical symptoms, such as sweaty palms or a racing heart.

Results from one study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found that patients who received aromatherapy reported significantly greater improvement in their mood and perceived levels of anxiety and felt less anxious and more positive immediately following the therapy.

If you’re new to aromatherapy, a simple way to begin is adding several drops of relaxing essential oils for anxiety to a warm bath. For example, five to seven drops of lavender added to a soaking bath (sometimes also with Epsom salt) is a common way to help manage daily stress.

2. Sleep Quality

Because many aromatherapy oils help people unwind and feel less stressed, they can be very useful for making you feel sleepier before bedtime. Those with insomnia, anxiety, or even restless leg syndrome and hot flashes that strike during the night can benefit from sleep-inducing essential oils, including lavender oil, chamomile, rose, vetiver, and ylang ylang.

An hour or so prior to going to sleep, try diffusing essential oils in your bedroom using either an aromatherapy candle, electronic diffuser or oil burner. Diffusing aromatherapy oils work by releasing very tiny particles into the air.  These particles are directly inhaled through the nostrils, where they travel to the brain and are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Adding about five to 10 drops to a diffuser in your home or office can help create a calm environment.  Plus make a room smell great.

3. Treats Respiratory Issues

Certain aromatherapy oils have antiseptic properties that help cleanse the air of bacteria, fungus, and mold that can contribute to respiratory problems, such as congestion, coughing or sneezing.

Research shows that using citrus oils in aromatherapy practices can help improve overall immune function.  It can also reduce fatigue associated with depressive states. Aromatic oils, such as orange and lemon (those with a citrus fragrance), can restore stress-induced immunosuppression.  They can also help restore homeostatic balance. Essential oils for depression and citrus oils are also beneficial for improving mental health.  They do this by stimulation of the sensory system called the “olfactory system,” which controls one’s sense of smell.

Depressive patients showed normalized neuroendocrine hormone levels when given citrus oils.  They had improved immune function that was comparable to the effects of antidepressants.

Other than diffusing oils in your home, you can inhale aromatic oils directly from the bottle or rub some directly onto your chest or neck so you can breathe in the particles. There are some great essential oils for allergies and essential oils for sore throat and other respiratory problems. Essential oils can help you overcome:

• sinus infections
• allergies
• colds
• the flu or coughs
• and fatigue.

Some of these oils include eucalyptus, peppermint, frankincense, rosemary, myrrh, lemon, oregano, and tea tree.

4. Skin Health

Diluted essential oils can be spritzed onto the skin or scalp.  This will help to reduce acne, dandruff, cellulite, toe fungus, itching, inflammation from bites, rashes or to improve wound healing. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is one of the most popular oils for treating skin problems.  It has antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal and other cleansing qualities.

To point out, other aromatherapy oils for skin (including essential oils for acne) include lavender, clary sage, juniper berry, lemon, orange, helichrysum, and frankincense. To make a homemade aromatherapy oil spritzer that you can spray into the troubled area of your skin, add 10–20 drops of oil to a spray bottle containing about four ounces of water.

Use several sprays at one time on your skin, and keep what you don’t use right away for later use. You can also use the same oils on your skin or scalp directly (including making a homemade essential oil shampoo) or spray them throughout your home for other benefits.

5. Manage Symptoms or Side Effects of Cancer 

Aromatherapy is primarily used as supportive care during treatment by cancer patients while also used for stress reduction, pain management, or simply for general well-being. It’s common for people battling cancer to try different methods of complementary treatments, including massage therapy, meditation or acupuncture, and aromatherapy oils.

Various aromatherapy oils are capable of lowering symptoms associated with cancer or hospice care, such as nausea, fatigue, aches or pains, depression, and insomnia. Essential oils that can help you cope with cancer symptoms or side effects caused by cancer treatments include frankincense, ginger, lavender, geranium, rose, neroli, and clary sage.

For instance, one study published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care found that aromatherapy helped hospice patients decrease pain, anxiety and depression, and promote an increased sense of well-being. The study measured the responses of 17 cancer hospice patients to humidified lavender essential oil used in 60-minute aromatherapy sessions. Following aromatherapy sessions, results reflected a positive change in blood pressure and pulse, along with reduced symptoms of pain and emotional upset.

6. Soothes Pain and Inflammation

A combination of different aromatherapy oils can be inhaled or applied to the troubled area to help soothe tight or tense muscles, achy joints, inflamed tissue injuries, or pain from headaches. Popular essential oils for arthritis pain include ginger, myrrh, turmeric, and orange. You can use other aromatherapy oils for nearly any source of pain, including essential oils for headaches, such as peppermint, spearmint, rosemary, and frankincense.

7. Reduce Fatigue and Raise Alertness

An International Journal of Neuroscience study involving 40 patients experiencing depressed moods and mental fatigue found that aromatherapy positively affects alertness, competency on testing (in this case regarding math problems) and improves overall mood. Forty adults were given three minutes of aromatherapy using one of two aromas, lavender (considered a relaxing odor) or rosemary (considered a stimulating odor). Participants completed math computations and surveys regarding their mood before and after the therapy.

Also note that those exposed to lavender aromatherapy showed increased beta power, suggesting increased drowsiness.  They also reported decreases in depressed moods and feeling more relaxed. Although they reported feeling more drowsy, the lavender group participants actually performed the math computations faster and more accurately following aromatherapy. The rosemary group showed decreased frontal alpha and beta power, suggesting increased alertness. They also had lower state anxiety scores, reported feeling more relaxed and alert, and were faster at completing the math problems.

8. Libido improves

Aromatherapy has a long history of use for improving libido, raising energy through increased blood flow and treating sexual dysfunctions. Popular aromatherapy oils for improving hormonal balance, “feminine power” and sexual health include:

• clary sage
• sandalwood
• rosemary
• geranium
• ylang ylgang
• and neroli.

9. Improves Digestion and Lowers Nausea

Aromatherapy oils, such as ginger, turmeric, grapefruit, peppermint, lemon, chamomile, and eucalyptus, can help curb:

• acid reflex,
• ulcers,
• nausea,
• indigestion,
• morning sickness or
• stomach aches due to PMS.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Basic Physiology and Pharmacology found that turmeric and ginger essential oils have strong gastro-protective activities, including anti-ulcer potential.  Both supply high levels of antioxidant enzymes.  These oils have been shown to reduce necrosis, erosion, and hemorrhage of the stomach wall, significantly reducing stomach pains.

In conclusion, aromatherapy is a wonderful way to improve your life in so many ways.  Find a local aromatherapist and learn how this type of therapy can make some wonderful changes for you today.  To learn more go here to another one of my aromatherapy pages. 

Another Tool for a Better Life

We have the most incredible bio-hacking health solution for you today! This is a 1-2 punch that will knock it out of the park. You won’t find this perfect solution to get your body in the best condition anywhere else. New science – bio-hacking – is having amazing results for so many people. We have found the solution, and it is available here!

Follow me on: Instagram – @offers26  and  Twitter – @msazkat

How Father’s Day began.  In the hustle and bustle of today’s world, many don’t take the time to reflect on the meaning of our holidays.  Do you know how Father’s day started?  Well, here is a little history.  Hopefully, this will help you reflect on the meaning of Father’s Day and help make his day a little more special.

Father’s Day is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018.  It all began when a young woman wanted to honor her dad.

In May 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Wash., sat in church listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. She decided she wanted to designate a day for her dad , William Jackson Smart. Dodd’s mother had died in childbirth, and Dodd’s father, a Civil War veteran, had taken the responsibility of single-handedly raising the newborn and his other five children.

The following year, Dodd wanted to celebrate Father’s Day on June 5th, her father’s birthday and petitioned for the holiday to be recognized in her city. Needing more time to arrange the festivities, Spokane’s mayor pushed the date back by two weeks, and the first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, according to the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau.

At the first Father’s Day celebration, young women handed out red roses to their fathers during a church service.  Large baskets full of roses were passed around.  Attendees were encouraged to pin on a rose in honor of their fathers.  Red for the living and white in memory of the deceased. After the service Dodd rode through the city in a horse-drawn carriage with her infant son bringing roses and gifts to home-bound fathers.

Will Father’s Day be recognized?

Congress was quick to officially declare the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914, after it was first celebrated on May 10, 1908.  It took much longer for Father’s Day to be legally recognized. But thanks to Dodd’s celebration, Father’s Day steadily gained popularity.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge said that he supported it, in order to establish closer relationships between fathers and their children, and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations, according to the Library of Congress.

The holiday gained more traction in 1938.  A trade organization, the National Council for the Promotion of Father’s Day, was formed by men’s clothing retailers in New York City.  They decided to take up the cause, according to Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays (Princeton University Press, 1995).

President Lyndon Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers in 1966.  It wasn’t until 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it a permanent holiday. That is how Father’s day began and since then, Father’s Day has become a time to recognize the many father figures in our lives.

Today, Father’s Day has a passionate following.

About three-quarters of Americans telling the National Retail Federation they plan to celebrate. Here are more facts about the holiday:

1. Census data shows there are more than 70.1 million dads in the U.S. About a third of them are married with kids under 18.
2. Two million fathers are single.
3. Spending on Father’s Day will reach about $12.7 billion this year, with the average person spending about $115.57 on presents. That’s about $2 more than last year’s average.
4. The amount spent on Father’s Day is still less than what Americans spend on Mother’s Day — $21 billion.
5. Father’s Day is the fourth-biggest day for sending greeting cards, after Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, according to the Greeting Card Association.
6. About 20 percent of Father’s Day cards are bought for husbands.
7. More than 214,000 men are stay-at-home dads.
8. Thailand’s Father’s Day is celebrated in December, on the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Everyone wears yellow.
9. On Father’s Day in Germany, men drink all day at beer gardens.

Dad has always been there for you.

When you were little, he gave you piggyback rides through the park and ran alongside your bicycle until you were finally stable enough to take off pedaling on your own. When you got a little older, he attended every school play and maybe even turned a blind eye when you came home 20 minutes past curfew. Now, he’s taking your own kids to the park so you can finally get a moment of peace.

Throughout the years, he’s really given the whole parenting thing 110 percent. It’s no wonder you’re struggling to find something just right to celebrate him on Father’s Day. When he has always done so much for you, finding something that can adequately express your gratitude is never easy—no matter how many years have come and gone. This year, we’re hoping to make shopping feel a little less like a task and a little more like a fun treasure hunt.

Father’s Day Activity Ideas

• Bond with dad at a local fishing hole.  Make a weekend out of it. When else do you get to stand side by side and catch up on life? Try this neat fishing trick: Use WD-40 to spray your lures. It attracts fish and masks human odor that can scare them off.
• Forget another gift of golf shirts. Take Dad for a thrill ride. Give him a speedway, a Go-Kart, and a helmet. Look for a nearby Go-Kart track and spend the day zipping around.
• Make dad’s day by toasting him at a local beer or wine tasting event. Better yet – give him the gift of wine.  Buy him his own membership to the best Wine of the Month club in the world.  Did you know wine is good for you?
• Thrilling rides, funnel cake, tacky souvenirs—yes, it’s Father’s Day at a theme park. Check out how to win at the trickiest carnival games; plus see more secrets amusement parks won’t tell you.
• They say golf is a good walk spoiled, but not when you spend 18 holes worth of quality time with dad. You can hire a PGA instructor for a series of golf lessons.  A great excuse to hang out together, pick up tips from a pro, and improve your game.
• Tickets to his favorite sporting event are pretty much always a winning idea. Many stadiums offer Father’s Day deals. Want to be the favorite child? Surprise dad with a splurge of season tickets.
• This year, start a camping tradition. Pitch a tent, start a campfire, swap memories about growing up—it’s bonding at its best. Look for a campground near you, pick up the right gear, and go wild.

We’re not done!

• Spa days are not just for the ladies. If yours is the kind of dad who appreciates being pampered, book him a luxurious massage, haircut, or professional shave. Or create a spa environment at home.  
• Is your dad an absolute car nut? Contact your local car clubs to find a nearby show. Bond over stories of what it was like for him to drive his first car—or recall laughs over what he went through to teach you how to drive.
• Check with your local library or historical society and ask if tours are available of their stacks and archives. Many organizations will be happy to show you a behind-the-scenes look at your town’s history. .
• What’s playing nearby? Check local listings for an outdoor music festival or concert. Remember snacks and cold water, plus a clean blanket.
• Many local art museums have dad-friendly works to look at.  Go quirky and try a specialized collection or gallery that he might find more interesting. Or get creative: You could check out a cool art installation in a nearby city instead of doing a more traditional museum.

Steak dinner with a fine wine?

• You can treat dad to dinner anytime. Instead, sign up for a cooking class and experiment in the kitchen. Sur La Table and Whole Foods, as well as your own local grocery store, are good places to start your search.
• Make it a day trip or a weekend getaway! June is a great month to get away on a scenic road trip. Be sure to pack some of these household items for easier travel.
• Now it’s time for you to give back for all he has done. Turn spending time with Dad into a meaningful opportunity to help those in your community.

So plan that amazing day that Dad is going to enjoy and remember for a long time. Sit back with a glass of fine wine that you picked from your collection of wine and enjoy your time with Dad.

Mother’s Day Gifts – what do you get for one of the most important people in your life? Isn’t Mother’s Day all about spoiling the “Mom” in your life whether it’s your wife, sister, grams or your best friend?  For you guys, even though a woman will tell you she needs a new frying pan or toaster. I guarantee if you give it to her as a gift, she will not be happy about it.  We have some unique gifts and ideas. Browse and get some grand ideas here.

GIFT IDEAS

Mother worked hard to raise you, kept the house, did your laundry, fed, and protected you. She deserves to be treated extra special on this day. So why not give her a spa experience in her very own home?. Variety is the spice of life and artisan soaps won’t disappoint! Mix and match to create a wonderful gift basket.

While she is relaxing in that fabulous bubble bath, she could be enjoying a glass of fine wine that she receives from her favorite wine of the month club. What a fabulous gift!  Pick from two bottles a month or four bottles a month. Or are you planning to have a wonderful home cooked meal?  Wine complements so many foods and food experiences.  A fine wine pairing can make any meal into an event, and more so, a lasting memory.  Take a moment to think about the last time you had a truly fine wine?  Do you remember?  With a fine wine you can remember everything about the occasion.  Something magical happens with each event that has wine included. . .it does something remarkable.  Learn more details here.

CHEESE or CHOCOLATE?

Giving a gourmet gift has never been easier. Order online or toll-free in minutes. Give a great gift, even if it’s a gift for you! Enjoy the anticipation of the next month’s selections, the exploitative nature of our service, and of course, the experience of tasting our international wine selections, craft brewed beers, world-class chocolates, hand-rolled cigars, and artisan cheeses.  Shop today!

Is the “Mom” in your life a lover of flowers? Maybe she likes the different tastes of beers or cheese?  Does she love chocolate?  Well, we have the perfect gift for her.  We have two great choices to find the perfect monthly club product choice.  Feel free to peruse the monthly gift clubs found here.  You can’t go wrong!

BOOKS and WINE

Does Mom love to read?  She can relax reading her favorite book, having a glass of wine, while Dad takes the kids out to play in the neighborhood park.  She would love to have that time to enjoy!  Why not get her that Kindle she’s been wanting along with the Kindle Unlimited package?  With the Kindle she won’t need to find a place to put her books.  Everything will be at her fingertips with the Kindle.  No more looking where she laid down that book she was reading.  Or what page did she leave off on. Learn more here . . .

So now that we have given you some wonderful ideas for Mother’s Day gifts, have fun shopping for that VIP in your life.  And if you are a mother yourself, have a wonderful and peaceful Mother’s day.

Spring break travel?  Wondering where to go and what to do for Spring Break?  Here are some ideas for your Arizona spring break.

We have a single stop travel service provider for Air travel, Hotel and Vehicle rental.   Also your tireless partner with innovative ideas to fulfill all your travelling needs at a lowest possible cost. Built to change the way you travel today and into the future. They have committed to make your travel experience seamless, fun and cost efficient.  Not only that, but adding the needed benefits of being personalized and secured. It’s important to realize that they are using Blockchain in the most sensitive and challenging areas with the most secured technology to safeguard your information. Undoubtedly, using their mobile app will provide travelers value added services far beyond than what is offered by competitors today.  Learn more here.

1.  Arizona Grand Water Park

The Arizona Grand Resort and Spa is a luxury hotel situated in Phoenix AZ.  In 2014 it was voted as the #1 Staycation Spot in Arizona and it is also the only AAA Four Diamond All Suite Resort in Arizona.  Although, better known as “The Water Slide Hotel”  for good reason.  The Arizona Grand is home to their very own Oasis Water Park, voted by the Travel Channel as one of the country’s Top 10 Water Parks.  The kids could spend ALL day going up and down the slides, floating around the lazy river, playing in the wave pool and just hanging out in the splash parks.  And, it doesn’t end when the sun goes down.  On certain nights the hotel offers movies at dark so the kids can float around the pool and watch a movie.  Plus they have been known to offer s’mores on certain nights as well.  Definitely, kids dream and we all know when the kids are happy… mom and dad are happy too!

2.  Dinner & Movie

I know many cities have dine-in movie theaters now that offer full menus.  However there is not one as affordable as the AMC Dine-In Theatre Esplanade 14.  The kids get a kick out of pressing the red button on their counter and ordering refills of their sodas.  The health conscious love some of the healthier and tasty menu items like the hummus tray and salads.  Plus, the seats are nice and cozy too.  This is a great way to take a break from the heat and relax.

3.  Hockey Game

Yes… the town is painted with baseball fans but Arizona is also home to the Coyotes – a major league hockey team.  Take a break from baseball and chill in the ice rinks.  The Coyotes fans are pretty into the game and so the arena has a great family-friendly atmosphere.  I highly recommend catching a game while you are in town.  Maybe you can score an awesome free shirt that your son will insist on wearing repeatedly.  Gotta love his style!

4.  Rustler’s Rooste Restaurant

While staying at the Arizona Grand make sure to stop by the Rustler’s Rooste.  It’s worth a visit if you are traveling with your children.  The restaurant sits on the top of a hill so it has some gorgeous views around sunset.  But, it’s not known for its views… people go there specifically for the entertainment.  It has a live steer out in front of the restaurant to greet you.  They pop paper bull horn hats on the kids as they come in and then they send the kids down a slide to enter the dining area.  I mean seriously… what kid doesn’t want to go down a slide… IN A RESTAURANT???  Once inside you hear the live band playing western music and you often see magicians and balloon artists making their way around all the tables.  Then as if the kids weren’t having enough fun they end the kid’s meals with a can of homemade cotton candy.

5.  The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa Phoenix-Scottsdale

This resort offers Villa accommodations as well as traditional rooms which make it super easy for larger families to fit comfortably.  Kierland also has a water area.  It includes a 110-foot waterslide, FlowRider, a lazy river,  a shallow pool for the wee little ones and a water splash area.  They offer cabanas to rent too but, I have found plenty of shade without having to pay.  It also has an an-adults-only pool for those traveling without children.

Another great aspect of staying at Kierland is all of the activities they offer.  From Princess & Pajama parties to yoga, hiking, and golf.  They print out a handy guide called a “Pathfinder” weekly and they usually have it posted ahead of time online.

6.  CHURN Ice Cream is a delicious thing to do in Phoenix 

Anyone that knows me knows I am S.E.R.I.O.U.S. about my ice cream eating- ha!  But, seriously… I LOVE ice cream and I am hard to please unless you’ve made it from scratch.  So, you can bet I was S.T.O.K.E.D. when I found a homemade ice cream shop in Phoenix AZ.  Churn is part of the Upward Projects Restaurant Group.  They feature delicious freshly churned ice cream, coffee, baked treats and novelty candies.  The BEST part is all of their yumminess comes sans the nasty additives, chemicals etc… that many ice creams have these days  (2 fist pumps in the air).  If you fancy yourself a visit I highly recommend making your own ice cream sandwich creation with their fresh baked cookies.  It will not disappoint!

7.  The Farm at South Mountain- Morning Glory Cafe

Speaking of deliciousness- minus the bad chemicals- why not have a super tasty farm to table breakfast on a local Arizona farm.  Amazing setting and a delicious Monte Cristo sandwich… its a little slice of heaven.  You need to get there early as it doesn’t take long for a line to form.  However, if you do catch the crowd you can always take the kids on a walk around Maya’s Garden and see the gorgeous flowers.  Or take them near the kitchen coop for a lesson on where real food comes from Or bring a ball and play some football while you wait.  There is plenty of room to play.

8.  Shopping

SHOP til you drop… and you can with all the lovely shopping malls I found in Scottsdale.  There seem to be malls all over the place.  Indoor, outdoor you can find both.  And, while the munchkins may not last long there seemed to be enough to keep them entertained for me to get my shop on. Scottsdale Fashion Square, Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter just to name a few

9.  Downtown Scottsdale

Downtown Scottsdale is pretty charming.  There are shops, galleries, bars and tons of dining options.  If you have your kids with you I definitely recommend the Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor for a fun dessert.  The pink booths and giant sundaes will keep smiles on everyone’s faces.

10.  Okay… Baseball makes the list

It is spring training for Pete’s sake and it’s pretty cool to see the players in their preseason.  Make sure you arrive extra early to the games and line up along the fence with some new baseballs and ballpoint pens.  You can get some awesome autographs!  Sitting on the lawn you can chat with the outfielders.  The kids get a kick out of it!!  Just make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and shade.  It will be H.O.T.!!!!!  You can look up the cactus league schedule. And if you’re spring break is in April check out the Arizona Diamondbacks at their beautiful ballpark.

Need help with your travel arrangements?  XcelTrip is built to change the way you travel today and into the future. XcelTrip is not only a single stop travel service provider for Air travel, Hotel and Vehicle rental but also your tireless partner with innovative ideas to fulfill all your travelling needs at a lowest possible cost. they have committed to make your travel experience seamless, fun and cost efficient.  Not only that, but adding the needed benefits of being personalized and secured. They are using Blockchain in the most sensitive and challenging areas with the most secured technology to safeguard your information. They have created a mobile app to provide travelers value added services far beyond than what is offered by competitors today.  Learn more here.

Follow me on :Instagram – @offers26  and  Twitter – @msazkat